Author Archive for Sherry Scott

In all likelihood you started your small business because you have a passion for what you do. And, quite possibly you could be considered an expert. That however, does not mean that you are an expert in technology, websites, hosting services, or domain names. Luckily you don’t have to be. But, you do need to know a few things to avoid some major pitfalls, like losing your domain name. Believe me it does happen. With a little knowledge, some organization, and help from experts like us, you can go happily about your business while we at Resource Connection watch out for your online interests.

What is a domain name?

Simply put, it’s nothing more than an easily memorable name given to represent a set of numbers (IP Address, ex. 111.222.33.44) which correspond to a specific location on a web server. Think of it like the Contacts function in your phone. In order to call Sally Jones you only need to find her name in your contacts, you don’t have to remember her phone number.

Domain name vs. URL (Uniform Resource Locator) – you just need to use the actual domain name to find a website, but every site has a full URL. URL’s consist of several parts. See the graphic below that breaks down what each part means.

Domain registration vs. web hosting – Domain names may be registered ONLY through companies who are accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to organize and track what names are registered by which individuals or companies. You do not OWN a domain, you simply pay to use it.

Some of these companies also offer web hosting, but many do not. Additionally many web hosting companies (GoDaddy, BlueHost, HostGator, etc.) partner with domain registration companies to make it easier to combine the domain registration process with a purchase of web hosting services. But, the two are entirely separate things. If you register a domain name through a web hosting service you will probably receive information about the registration via the third-party company.

What is web hosting? – Web hosting means that you have contracted to use a set amount and type of space on a web server. That space is where the files that comprise your website are stored and served . Whenever someone enters your domain name in a browser or finds your site via a web search the server sends your content to their browser (see our post on How Web Browsers work at TunedInDesign). Registering a domain name does not automatically include web hosting. It must be purchased as a separate item.

DO use an email address for registration that you intend to keep forever. If you use an address that you later stop using, you won’t see the the renewal notices. I’ve had more than one client lose their domain name because of this.

DO set up auto-renewal. It makes it much easier to keep your domain active. But you do need to remember that it means a charge to your credit card when your renewal becomes due. Registrars will send you an email notification when the renewal is coming up and you can access your account to make changes if necessary.

DO select Privacy Protection. It’s worth any additional cost, since this will prevent your personal information from being publicly available to anyone who knows how to look up domain registrations using a WhoIs service.

DO register your domain for the maximum length of time offered. It keeps your domain in your possession and means you won’t have to renew it as often. Plus, most registrars offers discounts for longer registration periods.

DO keep the records of the registration in a safe place. You will receive 1-3 emails after the registration with details about the transaction. Save these in a folder in your email program and make sure that your email messages are backed up regularly. I also recommend printing out a copy of each message, recording your account information (account #, username, and password) on one of the sheets and saving it in your business files. A hardcopy is good to have should your computer ever crash and destroy your files. If this information is forgotten or lost it makes it almost impossible to do anything when the domain renewal expires or if you want to move to a new hosting service. The DNS setting for domains are configured at the registrar and if you cannot get in to change the settings you cannot move the site.

DON’T let someone else register your domain in their name. I cannot tell you how many times I have had clients end up in legal battles, or lose their domain, because it was registered by a previous developer who has now disappeared, or hijacked their site. It’s not that hard to do the registration yourself and it protects your business interests.

These technical details can be intimidating, but it’s really just a matter of a little self-education to be able to handle them with ease. I usually walk my clients through the process step-by-step while I direct them. That way they feel ownership and begin to learn that they can manage technical issues. A little bit of assistance makes it much easier.

There is a lot of jargon and foreign sounding acronyms that fly around in technical discussions, and it is easy to feel lost. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about domains, web hosting, or other concerns. I’ll be happy to visit with you at no cost to make sure that your business stays safely online.

Like most folks I stay pretty busy all the time. And, my memory isn’t all that great for keeping track of everything I need to do for my multiple projects, home, family, travel, etc. I was using my computer’s calendar to try and keep track of things but the task management wasn’t very good. I’ve tried lots of different options over the years and have found that I prefer tools that are really simple and without too many features to get bogged down in. Plus, I mostly work alone so I don’t really need anything for team management.

I tried using a really simple online tool that was essentially just an outline list but it wasn’t integrated with my calendar. I want to be able to look in one place for my schedule and what needs to happen for the day. So, I started looking around for a new option and found a really great one – GQueues! It has exactly what I need, plus it has a few things that make it good for those who need to share and collaborate on tasks. It has a free version that you can use forever if you don’t need the additional functionalities that come with the $25/year version.

Things I like about the FREE version:

Clear, simple interface with folder style organization so I can separate Home and Work tasks easily

Let’s me set sub-tasks to easily manage things that have multiple steps

Like most everyone else our lives are super busy and it takes a lot of effort just to manage the day-to-day details – like meal planning and grocery shopping. I often think of things I need to add to my shopping list when I’m busy around the house and many times I forget to write them down. So, I came up with a shopping list that I print out each Sunday and stick to the refrigerator so it’s ready when I need it. I organized it by type of food products so that when I go to the store it’s really easy to make sure I don’t have to backtrack because I missed one produce item that was buried in my list among the cleaning supplies.

Another part of life that requires planning is our weekly menu. And, I can tell you this one was really my wife’s idea because she is a super-duper planner. She works hard to make sure that we eat healthfully and that our meal prep times fit into our schedule. She checks to see if one, or both of us, will be away from home on a weeknight and tries to set things up so that there are leftovers available, or a simple meal prep that night for the one who will be home cooking alone. It makes a huge difference in our stress levels and I’ve really learned to appreciate her planning skills. She gave me the parameters for this meal planning sheet and it has made life easier in so many ways.

If you feel that these organizers would be useful for you please grab copies below and see how they work. I’m happy to share these tools to make life a little simpler.

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Client Comments

Lara Dolnik

A rare find, Sherry’s skill set and expertise is truly holistic. In each project I have engaged her on, Sherry has brought her artistic, creative visionary skills along with her reliable, insightful business acumen.Read more…

– Lara Dolnik, Owner, Dolnik Consulting

2016-03-23T21:22:19+00:00

A rare find, Sherry’s skill set and expertise is truly holistic. In each project I have engaged her on, Sherry has brought her artistic, creative visionary skills along with her reliable, insightful business acumen. Read more… – Lara Dolnik, Owner, Dolnik Consulting

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/lara-dolnik/

Leslie Hyland Rodgers

"Sherry has the ability to really tune in to the style and essence of our mission and then, like magic, she designs something that is not just great marketing material, but a beautiful work of art. Without a doubt, the quality of Sherry’s work has raised the caliber of our organization to a higher level." Read more…

– Leslie Hyland Rodgers, Executive Director, Symphony of Soul

2016-03-08T20:44:41+00:00

"Sherry has the ability to really tune in to the style and essence of our mission and then, like magic, she designs something that is not just great marketing material, but a beautiful work of art. Without a doubt, the quality of Sherry’s work has raised the caliber of our organization to a higher level." Read more… – Leslie Hyland Rodgers, Executive Director, Symphony of Soul

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/leslie-hyland-rodgers/

Gary Yorke, Ph.D.

"Sherry Scott is the most creative graphic artist and designer with whom I’ve worked. Not only that, she responds to all requests quickly and professionally, and she meets her deadlines! Sherry is a “gold mine” for the small business person and entrepreneur." Read more…

– Gary Yorke, Ph.D., Child Psychologist & Owner, ChildTherapyToys.com

2016-03-08T20:45:34+00:00

"Sherry Scott is the most creative graphic artist and designer with whom I’ve worked. Not only that, she responds to all requests quickly and professionally, and she meets her deadlines! Sherry is a “gold mine” for the small business person and entrepreneur." Read more… – Gary Yorke, Ph.D., Child Psychologist & Owner, ChildTherapyToys.com

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/gary-yorke-ph-d/

Juli Fellows, Ph.D.

"Sherry isn’t there to sell you what she thinks you should have, she’s an attuned listener who adds her skills and solutions to make YOUR vision work. Just talking with her helped me think more clearly about what I wanted and needed." Read more…

– Juli Fellows, Ph.D., Organizational Consultant

2016-03-08T20:46:07+00:00

"Sherry isn’t there to sell you what she thinks you should have, she’s an attuned listener who adds her skills and solutions to make YOUR vision work. Just talking with her helped me think more clearly about what I wanted and needed." Read more… – Juli Fellows, Ph.D., Organizational Consultant

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/juli-fellows-ph-d/

Abby Lentz

Talent, computer savvy, fine-tuned listening skills and the ability to think outside the box has made Sherry Scott a valued member of my marketing team for over a decade.Read more…

–Abby Lentz, Owner, Heavyweight Yoga

2016-03-23T21:27:51+00:00

Talent, computer savvy, fine-tuned listening skills and the ability to think outside the box has made Sherry Scott a valued member of my marketing team for over a decade. Read more… –Abby Lentz, Owner, Heavyweight Yoga

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/abby-lentz/

Summit Agency

As I admired the website of another professional, she told me that I had to talk to Sherry who was the creator of her site because “she listens and understands” what you want to do. Well, my friend was totally correct.Read more…

– Kathy Bailey & Daniel Brown, Summit Agency

2016-03-23T21:28:56+00:00

As I admired the website of another professional, she told me that I had to talk to Sherry who was the creator of her site because “she listens and understands” what you want to do. Well, my friend was totally correct. Read more… – Kathy Bailey & Daniel Brown, Summit Agency

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/summit-agency/

Ron Poole, MBA/CBC

After my first year we had to double our production capacity to keep pace with the demand that our web presence was creating. After two years more than half of our new business leads still come from our web site. I can easily recommend Sherry to anyone with a business need for design services.Read more…

– Ron Poole, MBA/CBC, Owner, Clean Channel Dredging

2016-03-27T15:28:07+00:00

After my first year we had to double our production capacity to keep pace with the demand that our web presence was creating. After two years more than half of our new business leads still come from our web site. I can easily recommend Sherry to anyone with a business need for design services. Read more… – Ron Poole, MBA/CBC, Owner, Clean Channel Dredging

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/ron-poole-mbacbc/

Suzanne Rittenberry, L.Ac.

From the very beginning she was easy to work with, intuitive about my needs, and helpful about suggesting features I would not have considered. She is calm and present, and she remains tuned-in to both the needs of her clients and the trends in social media. In addition to website design and maintenance, she's done all our business cards, invitations and marketing pieces – quickly, professionally, and with great attention to detail. Sherry's work is a great investment.Read more…

–Suzanne Rittenberry, L.Ac., Owner, Oak Hill Healing Arts

2016-03-27T15:29:26+00:00

From the very beginning she was easy to work with, intuitive about my needs, and helpful about suggesting features I would not have considered. She is calm and present, and she remains tuned-in to both the needs of her clients and the trends in social media. In addition to website design and maintenance, she's done all our business cards, invitations and marketing pieces – quickly, professionally, and with great attention to detail. Sherry's work is a great investment. Read more… –Suzanne Rittenberry, L.Ac., Owner, Oak Hill Healing Arts

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/suzanne-rittenberry-l-ac/

Carla Blumberg

Sherry Scott can do anything, get you out of any scrape and make your website sing. I highly recommend her company Resource Connection. Read more…

Sherry Scott can do anything, get you out of any scrape and make your website sing. I highly recommend her company Resource Connection. Read more… – Carla Blumberg, Co-Owner At Sara's table Chester Creek Cafe, Duluth, MN

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/carla-blumberg/

Peggy Lamb

Sherry Scott is an amazing resource! She creates beautifully designed web sites that also have functionality. She's easy to work with, gives solid feedback and meets her deadlines. I've recommended her to many people.Read more…

– Peggy Lamb, Owner, Massage Publications

2016-03-27T15:31:34+00:00

Sherry Scott is an amazing resource! She creates beautifully designed web sites that also have functionality. She's easy to work with, gives solid feedback and meets her deadlines. I've recommended her to many people. Read more… – Peggy Lamb, Owner, Massage Publications

http://resource-connection.net/testimonials/peggy-lamb/

Christine Buendel

Sherry is an amazing, wonderful, patient designer. she understood what I wanted and where I wanted to take my business. Sherry asked guiding questions which helped me stimulate more ideas and business possibilities. Sherry offered me a full service package –logo design, user friendly website, and training on how to maintain and update my website --all within an established budget.Read more…

Christine Buendel, Owner, Three Hungry Racoons

2016-03-29T15:47:26+00:00

Sherry is an amazing, wonderful, patient designer. she understood what I wanted and where I wanted to take my business. Sherry asked guiding questions which helped me stimulate more ideas and business possibilities. Sherry offered me a full service package –logo design, user friendly website, and training on how to maintain and update my website --all within an established budget. Read more… Christine Buendel, Owner, Three Hungry Racoons